Speeches

Mr President, any country that wants to be part of the European project can do so through the Treaty on European Union and for that it must meet the Copenhagen criteria on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Enlargement was a dead debate. It has departed from the expectations of peoples such as Albania or North Macedonia: 13 and 18 years without starting accession negotiations. It is necessary to make an analysis about where we are, but above all an honest debate about what we want to be, whether to continue a purely economic union or go towards greater political integration and which: democratic values, rule of law, labour rights, fight against corruption, commitment to social Europe... There are no shortcuts. All countries, such as Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, can access candidate status under the same procedure and under the same standards and at the same time. And, most importantly, we have a huge responsibility not to generate false expectations for peoples. We all know that the accession process is long, full of deep, necessary reforms, and that an invaded country such as Ukraine cannot exercise its sovereignty or decide its future freely. The European Union needs a plan. Strategic autonomy must stop being beautiful words to become a real constituent project.

Mr President, to the previous speaker: If they care so much about the lives of workers, what they can do is support the European minimum wage and not vote against it, as they have done in recent months. Step by step ─ late, too ─ we are making progress on the European Union's road map to curb the climate emergency. Any measures aimed at decarbonising the economy, mitigating the effects of climate change and caring for the social fabric of our societies are heading in the right direction. Parliament leaves its mark on these developments, but this is only the beginning. We send a very clear message to the Commission: We want much more ambition, and that is negotiated from now on. At the center of this fight against the climate emergency, there is nothing but the life of those who inhabit the cities, of those who inhabit the peoples, who live on the earth and depend on it. The green transition cannot be made at the expense of the people or the territories and, above all, what cannot be is the alibi of the great profits for multinational companies. The transition must be the commitment and obligation of those who can most, of those who have the most responsibility for the future horizon, leaving no one behind.

Mr President, from the European Left we say it loud and clear: All our solidarity is with the suffering peoples. More than two months after its inception, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is today causing the loss of thousands of lives, more than ten million displaced people, mainly women and children, the systematic destruction of essential infrastructure and soaring global food and energy prices. Today it is Moldova that fears the Russian invasion and that it will end up escalating in the conflict in Transnistria that has been entrenched for decades. A country that has hosted large numbers of refugees from Ukraine today feels the threat of this escalation up close. And what will the European Union do? To continue to encourage warmongering ardor, saying that this war will be won on the battlefield, while those who fight and lose lives every day are others? We must urge in the strongest terms the ceasefire, that Russia cease the invasion of Ukraine and any threat to Moldova. And we must put all our resources and capabilities into taking care of every avenue of open negotiation and promoting and adding to open diplomatic avenues, such as that of the United Nations. We must also promote work on resolving frozen conflicts such as that in Transnistria by launching dialogue and agreed solutions between the parties to the conflict, also through mediation with Russia, Ukraine, the United States, the OSCE and the European Union itself. We must do this for the people of Moldova, to stop the disaster in Ukraine, to prevent another disaster and another European economic crisis and for the right to a future with a just and peaceful international system.

Madam President, today we are debating the threats to stability and security in the Sahel and the Sahara, and it is no longer a debate. Not only because Russia's invasion of Ukraine reminds us that if we do not act proactively and decisively and with agreements when dealing with conflicts, they end in barbarism, but also because the European Union can no longer rely on a concept of militarised security and false stability that hides conflicts and interests. To build joint security, end the violence in the area and that its consequences do not reach us we must bet on a security based on the economic, political and social rights of the peoples, in a non-extractivist economy and at the service of the people, and in a privileged relationship with the movements of women, social and trade unions, which underpin the social and democratic base. And what can we do immediately? First, to recognize the heritages of the colonial powers and to act in accordance with international law so that the Saharawi people can exercise their right to self-determination now. Secondly, to put an end to the arms sales spiral in strict compliance with European legislation and to settle the responsibilities of some Member States that have directly contributed to the escalation of conflicts, such as in Mali. Thirdly, to support the mobility rights of migrants and refugees; also, because of the climate emergency in the area. And fourth, to take another step so that the human rights that states must also comply with are strictly complied with by European companies.

Mr President, various investigations reveal Pegasus spying on activists, journalists, lawyers, national deputies and Members of this House. We recall that it can only be bought and used by States to spy on other States or to spy on their own citizens. And it spies not only conversations but has control of the device (documents, activation of the camera, the microphone, at any time, to be able to record). Therefore, not only the people involved are being spied on but anyone who has had contact with these people, extending this violation of fundamental rights to a large part of the population and to the Chambers in which popular sovereignty is expressed. In Spain, espionage has been revealed to more than 65 people of Catalan and Basque independence, journalists, lawyers, deputies and the list of names does not stop growing and being recognized within the institutions. We welcome the opening of this inquiry in the European Parliament. We should all, as we do here, support the various investigations in our Member States. Pegasus is being used against democracy, against the rights of all. And Europe and democracy must defend themselves. They must defend the rights of their citizens, investigate, demand responsibilities and generate guarantees of non-repetition.

Madam President, Mr High Representative, the multilateral system is unraveling; The Trump era deepened this weakening: the exit of the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement, the abandonment of UNESCO... Multilateralism requires states to follow international norms and tries not to allow states to be differentiated depending on their power or their preferences, facing only the law of the strongest or that of fait accomplis, but guaranteeing that multilateralism is everyone's responsibility, a daily responsibility in foreign policy: an action based on principles and values, and not so much on specific conjunctures and interests. The EU-China Summit, at an extremely sensitive time, as always, is welcome. There are many issues mentioned of common interest: food security, the fight against climate change, biodiversity... There was talk of the need to build peace and put an end to the massacre in Ukraine, but the lack of mention by the European Union of the need to protect negotiations and boost dialogue remains striking. Today, and always, it is necessary to defend this multilateral work, as it is to demand the same principles from ourselves and from all countries at these summits: Israel when it besieges the Palestinians, or Morocco when it negotiates with resources belonging to Western Sahara. More multilateralism, more international law of all.

Madam President, this action programme is good news for the environment and, therefore, for all of us in the European Union. Increasing ambition, phasing out fossil fuel financing, integrating animal health and welfare are some of the elements that can make us proud to move in the right direction. Today, however, this Parliament has its sights set on 2,000 kilometres from here. The attempt to control Ukraine has a lot to do with what this environmental programme includes: our dependence on gas in general and on Russian gas in particular is one of the major obstacles to moving towards our energy and environmental sovereignty. It's one more reason to finally put fossil fuels aside and take the green transition seriously. And is that this follow-up to the gas industry is coming out very expensive. In Spain you can already see the consequences of the war in Ukraine and these days the price of light will reach 700 euros per megawatt hour in some areas. The European Union cannot continue to play in two bands: Either we are committed to energy sovereignty, to stopping profits falling from the sky, to stopping climate change, or we are continuing to whitewash the gas industry as a whole, including the financing of Putin's gas pipelines. We are clear: deepen the public management of strategic sectors, regulate the electricity market and a firm commitment to the energy transition.

Mr President, today we once again express our deepest solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemn Putin's invasion of Ukraine. And to help the Ukrainian people, the Russian people, too, who do not agree with this invasion, and the European citizens, who also suffer its consequences, we have to put all our efforts into building peace as soon as possible. And that is not done with climbing or sending weapons; This is done by promoting international mediation that is able to take care of and build the difficult path that is negotiation and lasting peace. Today we need to launch an ambitious reception programme, establish safe humanitarian corridors and continue to send humanitarian assistance and deepen shelter measures so that all people fleeing Ukraine, as well as Russian retaliation, can be protected. Today we see that, when there is a will, Europe protects. The implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive in Ukraine should be the norm in conflicts, but we need more: reform the Common European Asylum System and create a common human rights-based refugee system and agency. We do not want more violations of rights in Ukraine, nor do we want more violations of Frontex or more Morias or more centres without resources on the southern border, such as in the Canary Islands. All lives matter.

Mr President, Madam President of the Commission, today I would like to express our strong condemnation of Putin's invasion of Ukraine and our utmost solidarity with the victims of the Ukrainian people at this very difficult time. But today we must also remember that we have in this House groups of extreme right-wing allies of Putin, financed to work precisely for the destabilization of Europe, something that can no longer be whitewashed. Europe must act firmly, but with the aim of building peace. The priority must be to stop the loss of human life, to avoid temptations to use this conflict to entrench other interests. We must promote spaces for international negotiation and use all the means at our disposal to take care of spaces for dialogue, because we know that this is the only way to put an end to this terrible tragedy. Let us not make old mistakes by aggravating conflicts and participating in military escalations that have spread for years with immense pain. It is time to capitalize on politics and show that Europe can and will live up to the times. Only peace is the goal.

Mr President, Mr High Representative, in the face of the global challenges we face, it is imperative that an international actor of the weight of the European Union contribute to a foreign policy in an autonomous, strategic and responsible way, leaving behind the dictates from the other side of the Atlantic against the security of Europeans and Europeans. After the events of recent weeks in Ukraine, can anyone today say that we Europeans are closer to a security environment? Europe needs its own external action strategy that is not only up to the challenges of the moment, but prioritises the well-being of its peoples, the sustainability of the planet, social justice, cooperation and gender equity. A European Union based on international law, promoting peace, disarmament, the abolition of nuclear weapons, fair development, combating tax evasion and the dismantling of the social state. Europeans will feel more secure when their governments stop filling their borders with weapons, when it is recognized that the real threats are precisely the obstacles to accessing energy at affordable prices. A Europe with more democracy, transparency, rights and justice, committed to diplomacy and leading effective multilateralism and working squarely for fairer global economic governance. That's the best possible security policy.

Madam President, the Summit between Europe and the African Union takes place two years late and with new and permanent challenges. The roadmap for the relationship should reflect, on the one hand, enhanced health cooperation beyond COVAX, real investment and patent release to ensure access to vaccines worldwide, which includes a continent where 1.2 billion people live, 16% of the world's population. This helps us to measure the absolute need to make cooperation, fair and sustainable development, together with the climate issue, the backbone of relations between the European Union and Africa. The European Union must stop using the lives of millions of migrants as a bargaining chip. It must go to the root of injustice, of the consequences of policy in external action, and not be reduced to the defense of the interests of European companies in Africa or to the plundering of resources or military interventions. There are many opportunities that one continent and another can offer, but it is necessary that strategic and determined vision that has as a roadmap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. President, in the Sustainable Development Goals of 2015, we set the goal of 2030 to end hunger in the world. And what are we in 2021? One hundred thirty-five million people suffer from severe hunger, and malnutrition kills three million children under five every year. What these numbers hide are the realities of millions of people suffering not only from malnutrition, but also inequality due to lack of agricultural justice, plunder of resources, conflict, forced displacement and violence. Malnutrition and malnutrition are global threats of the size of the climate crisis and the pandemic, and the response we give must treat them as such. The European Union's announcement of €2.8 billion is welcome, but it will not serve to eradicate hunger if the main recommendation of the United Nations, which is to radically change our extractive model of production and consumption, is not followed: We need a holistic approach that addresses the causes and ends hunger. Ahead, cooperation or barbarism?

Mr President, the 2019 COP 10 ended many of the great unresolved problems and since then we have faced a global pandemic, which has shown us the devastating effects of unpreparedness, the interrelationship between our planet and people, and the great vulnerability to which we are exposed. Biodiversity loss accelerates, droughts, famines worsen and melting progresses. COP 26 in Glasgow should mark a before and after in the race against climate collapse. We have discussed a lot about reducing emissions, about climate targets for the next decade, but nothing materializes yet. Citizens are witnessing incredulous in the absence of decision, ambition and courage. Europe must cooperate and be ambitious. To talk about pollution we must speak clearly about who and what pollutes. Prevent the big polluters from turning the COP into a show and sponsorship of their own. We must talk about environmental justice, but also about social justice, which can only occur with a courageous transition over an exhausted model. We must close, once and for all, the gulf between what they are asking of us and the decisions we make.

Mr President, the role of public funding in climate objectives must take into account clear guidelines – who and how will use these public resources; it should be the engine driving the transition, not a mechanism to keep doing business: we need transparency, we need to look at cultural differences, the differences between the rural and urban worlds, the tremendous and growing economic inequalities, the capacity of SMEs and small businesses... The change of model is more necessary and urgent than ever: meeting emission reduction targets, seeking efficiencies ... But it must not only fight energy poverty and, in addition, be environmentally sustainable, it must also be socially just; must be produced based on renewable and non-fossil sources, but this cannot be done in any way, making it the new boom from speculation or destroying natural environments: We need global planning. In Spain we have seen reservoirs emptied to sell renewable energy at the price of coal, making it inaccessible to citizens, while billions of NextGenerationEU funds are raised. We need to stop oligopolies, speculation and revolving doors: Let's turn these funds into a new generation of rights.

Madam President, with the Pandora papers we are experiencing a new scandal: many personalities from the ultra-capitalist Atlas Network lobby, the Legionaries of Christ, Guillermo Lasso, Sebastián Piñera, Vargas Llosa, Pastrana, links with the emeritus king of Spain or the current finance minister of the Netherlands and the Czech prime minister, both – I remember – with veto power in tax matters in the European Union. We have had to listen to them that democracy is only democracy if you vote well, that is, what they dictate, or see them put obstacles to the creation of the recovery funds. When it comes to economic elites there is no north or south. There is the defense of the plundering of the few against the rights of the social majorities. Let's not fool ourselves: This new scandal of the plundering of public coffers is now known and allowed and shows a lack of political will. We need to end tax havens also within the European Union, improve the methodology of the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, the blacklist of jurisdictions that do not comply with the fight against money laundering, have effective infringement procedures. There is much to do and it is time for a clear commitment. Who is with the fraudsters and who with the rights of their people?

Madam President, the Arctic is a region of enormous importance for two main reasons. The first is climate change: The average temperature has risen three times more than in the rest of the planet. Melting is not just a local problem, it has direct consequences on sea level rise, leading to flooding, climate-related migration, ecosystem disruption and biodiversity. The second is that thawing also opens up new shipping, transport and trade routes, the possibility of extracting key resources – oil, gas, minerals – which in turn influences the so-called global security and defence policy. This is creating new tensions over control of the region and many geopolitical interests. The recent elections in Greenland gave a very clear message: are unwilling to turn their environment into an open pit mine, exploited by outside interests. And here lies a fundamental point for European policy. Nothing should happen in the Arctic without the voice of the people who live and dwell there. No decision, initiative or agreement can be made without guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the Inuit and respect for their decisions. The European Union must, with an autonomous view, bet on a relationship that puts the fight against climate change and local and sovereign development at the center. Faced with the militarization of the area, we must value what has been achieved so far and increase efforts so that this strategic place does not become another black point of European foreign policy. Dialogue and strengthening multilateralism are the only way to jointly address global challenges.

Madam President, the European Union has always had a hypocritical relationship with China: at Community level by encouraging tension, while the Member States separately see how they do big business and missell fundamentally strategic resources. The new strategy of the European Union with China should open a window of opportunity to, in a transparent way, stabilise and modernise a relationship based on dialogue and cooperation in order to find solutions to problems that pose a major global challenge. Climate change and its consequences, the global regression of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the lack of natural resources, food insufficiency in so many parts of the world, among many other emergencies, force us to devote all our efforts to the development of a policy of cooperation based always on clear principles and fundamental rights with all the actors necessary to truly achieve real change. That this relationship that is generating so many benefits for a few within the European Union be put at the service of environmental, economic and social justice at the international level. Let's use it to advance human rights and global justice.

Madam President, the collapse of Afghanistan indicates the catastrophe of the continuation of US military interventions, invasions in the name of human rights that Biden himself recognized as excuses. The causes of terrorism were not addressed, nor was there any work on social empowerment or the strengthening of democracy – now in the hands of the Taliban. More terrorist groups, more desolation... And no one believes the United States or Europe. Leaving behind the multilateral system of the United Nations to invade Afghanistan and Iraq, relying on the Blairs, the Aznars, the Barroso... The collapse of Afghanistan is the end of a fiction: the fiction that wars can be humanitarian; The fiction that you can rebuild a country without its people. Some countries acted fast, but it is not enough. We need a coordinated European response: ensure that there are no deportations from European refugee camps; humanitarian corridors; family reunification; the Temporary Protection Directive; to seek asylum from embassies of third countries and following reception plans... In addition to the necessary revision of a failed foreign policy, today we need to act urgently. Today we have a responsibility.

Mr President, the terrible situation in Tigray makes the civilian population again a victim of the absence of international rules, with sexual violence, displacement, hunger, deaths; A situation that has also caused the death of eleven humanitarian workers, including the Spanish Doctors Without Borders María Hernández, along with her two Ethiopian colleagues, just a few weeks ago. Today I want to send a big hug to family and friends from here. Murders that have been firmly condemned. But is that enough? The killings of humanitarian personnel continue to grow. And there is also the silent death of people whose only crime was being in the middle of a war without rules. A black hole for international law. Convictions are not enough. We need action. A follow-up is needed for the investigation and prosecution of the murderers of María Hernández and her companions. We need work on the ground. The best policy for the Horn of Africa is to work with local and regional authorities to ensure human rights in Tigray, Ethiopia and other countries in the region.

Madam President, the fight against human rights violations must be a priority of European policy, inside and outside Europe; not a secondary element, but an essential pillar of our policy as a shared project. Every day we are seeing the increase of repressions with people killed, tortured, abused, the persecution of defenders of human rights, women's rights, the LGTBIQ collective, the environment, migrants, but also of people who are deprived of an adequate standard of living, well-being, health, housing. Let us not forget that it is a human right as well. We welcome this initiative on tools to curb the violation of rights, but we need such a tool to guarantee its end. For that we need more transparency, we need coherence with other mechanisms and we need it to count, as protagonists, with the people who suffer the most and with civil society, to be able to denounce it. It should not be a tool more used in favor of other interests, as we live here on a daily basis. Today there are already mechanisms such as the suspension of trade, free trade and association agreements, the promotion of binding business and human rights instruments within the framework of the United Nations or the end of shame agreements with Turkey and Morocco or of actions - as we are seeing - of the Libyan Coast Guard, paid for with European funds. So we applaud and welcome initiatives of this kind, but what we need here today is the strong political will to carry them out.